Conducting Mock Trial in a Foreign Language as the Project Activity in a Non-Linguistic University

Abstract

One of the most effective methods of developing professional competencies of future lawyers in a foreign language is the case-study method, particularly, Mock Trial. This method is widely used not only abroad, but also in Russia. At the same time, it is extremely important to know and take into account the culturally significant components typical for the common law system, often absent in the civil law tradition. Conducting a Mock Trial, one can distinguish such stages as: pre-trial stage (preparatory stage), in-trial or adjudication stage (stage of the process itself) and post-trial stage (stage of reflection and self-assessment). In the process of legal training, special attention should be paid to the differences between the two legal traditions focusing on specific examples. Pedagogically speaking, it is important to analyze the responses of students in a survey conducted among them, asking for both advantages and obstacles they need to overcome in the project.